Grinding machinery



j July 14, 1931. 1 E CASTER 1,814,431

, GRINDING MACHINERY Filed Sept. 16. 1927 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 61H01 nui -July `14, '1931.' J.E.ASTER A 1,814,431

GRINDI NG MACHINERY Filed Sept. 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ttor nu! Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED srArEs PATENT OFFICE JOHN E. CASTER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 CINCINNATI GR-INDERS IN- CORPORATED, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO @BINDING MACE-unam? application mea september 1s, 1927. serial No. 220,023.

This invention relates to improvements in --grinding machinery and has particular refthe work and an intermediate rest which supports the work during the grinding operation.

For the grinding of many articles it is desirable to vary the separation of the wheels or as it is termed the Width of the grinding throat. This has hitherto been accomplished through the use of a sliding carriage or the like, in conjunction with means for shifting thearriage back and forth. This has meant the shifting of a large ,weight with attendant friction and retardence of ra id action.

`One of the objects therefore o the present invention is the provision of a noveland improved mechanism for facilitating the ready variance o'f width of grinding throat in a centerless grinder.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a mechanism for varying the grinding throat which will to a maximum degree eliminate the frictional retardences or the like experienced with previously known structures and the resistance due to inertia of the mass of the unit to be shifted and which will on the contraryutilizev the weight of the parts in initiating and effecting certain of the shifting movements. j

Another object yof the invention is the simplification of drive mechanism for the shiftable unit to insure constant operation thereof while permitting ready adjustment for either sizing or throat adjustment during grinding.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understood that I mayv make any modifications in the specific structural details hereinafter disclosed within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation -of a machine embodying these improvements.

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the control cam and associate parts.

Figure 4 is a vertical section illustrating the control cam drive mechanism, and

Figure 5 is a detail of the belt drive connections to the shiftable unit.

' In the drawings the numeral 10 designates the bed of a centerless grinder having supported thereon the spindle 11 for the grinding wheel 12 which is operated at a high or grinding rate of speed and rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.

This grinding wheel may be suitably driven as from the motor or other` source of 'power 13 attached to the bed and through belt 14 and belt 15 from pulley on shaft 16.

The bed is formed with the guide 17 for slide 18 which is movable toward and from the grinding wheel spindle bymeans of a siutable adjusting screw operated by the hand wheel 19. This slide is formed at its inner end with the ways 20 adjustably supporting the sliding base 21 of the work rest bracket 22 having a work rest blade 23 projecting adjacent the face of the grinding Wheel 12 and adapted to support a work piece 24 in engagement therewith as pa-rticularly illustrated in Figure 3. It will thus be noted that the slide 18 may be given a back and forth movement for adjustment purposes and that additionally the supplemental slide 21 may be adjusted with respect to the main slide to suitabl. vary the position of the work rest blade with respect yto the grinding 'wheel for various adjust- Athrough the machine.' In order that the 24 ont-he work rest 23, the unit 27y is provided with thefways 30 in proper angular relationshipto the regulating wheel spindle. Slidable on these ways is the truing fixture 31 which will thusproduce on the surface ofthe regulating wheel a contour such that it will constantly present a line contact to the work piece parallel to the face of the grinding wheel conditions. It will of course be understood that if desired different truing mechanism or control therefor may b e substituted permitting from truing of the regulating wheel.

In centerless grinding there are two well recognized methods of producing work, one of which is' known as the through feed method in which the work progresses axially along the work rest through the grinding throat and which is suitable for ordinary cylindrical work. v

The other method is that in which the work piece is suitably introduced between the wheels vand the width of the grinding throat or space between the wheels is varied to progressively reduce the diameter of the work piece. This method is particularly applicable in the case of form grinding or preparation of specially shaped work pieces.

The present structure is capable of use for either methodof grinding butl is particularj ly designed for the infeed method. As has been mentioned the regulating wheel unit- 27 is pivoted by trunnions 26 to slide 18,2-

the weight of theI unit being disposed outwardly of the ytrunnions as respects the grinding throat.

By reference-to Figure 3 it will be at once apparent that oscillatipn of the .unit 27 about trunnions 26 will vary the space between the grinding wheel 12 and regulating wheel 29. To effect such oscillation use is made of the shaft 32 suitably journalled on slide 18.

This shaft'is provided with a worm gear 33 meshing with worm 34 on shaft 35. This shaft is coupled by belt 26 with drive pulley 37 on the suitably actuated shaft 38 operated from a suitable source of power.

Shaft 32 has removably mounted thereon the interchangeable cam 39 which bears against the antifriction roller 40 at the lower end of, slide plunger 41. This plunger is movable in passage 42 of unit 27 b'eing adjustable by screw 43 and hand wheel 44. A suitable graduated dial 45 serves to indicate the eiii'ect of adjustment thereof.'

By reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that the structure just described forms in effect a bell crank or L lever type of mechanism in which the spindle for the regulating wheel is carried. by one end of the lever and a cam member serves to encrage and lift the opposite end of the lever ahout under normal l; so mounted that-the Weight of the 'parts capable of ,balance *of weight of the associate parts is such that the contact roller on the unit is at all times pressed by the weight of the parts against the cam tending to swing the. parts' backwardJ and increase the separation between regulating wheel and grinding wheel. Consequently, in place of having to overcome the lnertia of mass of the' parts -each time that it is desired -to decrease andeach time that it is desired to increase the weight of the grinding lthroat it will be seen that the parts are balanced on a satisfactory supporting pivotl as distinguished from a frictional slide and also that they are automatically moves them into releasing position to whatever extent such movement is permitted by the contour of the rotating control cam. l

In order that the'regulating wheel may be suitably driven or rotated without the necessity -of placing the driving motor therefor directly upon the movable unit as v has been considered necessary in the past,

an =improved drive' connection is provided from the base. This includes a prime shaft 46which may be driven by a belt 47 from shaft 16 or otherwisefas desired. Supported for pivotal movement about shaftV 4 6 as a center is the arm 48 supporting a secoud shaft 49 and belt tensioning arm 50. Shafts 46 and 49 are respectively provided with pulleys 51 and 52 connected by drive belt 53 so that shaftA 49 is driven by shaft 46 but capable of swinging movement relative thereto. Arm 50 is adjustably connected as by the eccentric 54'with the regulating wheel unit 27. 'Rotation of the eccentric and locking in adjusted rotated position therefor serves to `vary the position vbetween the centers of shaft 49 and spindle 28 of the regulating wheel to adjust the tension of drive belt 55 which has been indicated as of the multiple type such as employed in thel texrope drive for example..

It will thus be noted that shaft 49 is in and out movement to correspond to adjustment of slide 18'01'1 its ways ithout interference withthe drive, while t e combined swinging of arm 48 and arm 50 about the eccentric 54 permits of tilting or oscillation of unit 27 about its trunnion or pivot center 26 without appreciably effecting the tension of tions 55. Consequently, any desired adjustment may be given either to the complete regulating wheel mechanism or to the plvotally supported unit without disturbing the drive of the'parts.

It will be understood that the machine in uestion is intended to function in accor ance withl general centerless rinder principles and that ordinary mec anism feed, automatic ejection-and the like mav be employed in conjunction therewith. To falos the drive connecj Y is provided with bevel ear 56meshing with vits width of the grinding throat between 'tion or other mechanisms r 57 onvshaft 5.8 W ich extends toward the front of the machine and may be, coup-v led to suitably drive automatic feed or ejecas desired. Iclaim:-

1. centerless 4grinderj including a bed ways on `the bed, opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried by the bed, the grinding and: re` ating wheels having a grinding throat tween them, means'for rotatably supporting 'the grinding` wheel in a xed position on the bed, a slideon the ways of the bedfa regulatin whe'el `unit pivotally supported on the slide, a plunger adjustably reciprocatable through the iegu- `lating wheelunit, and a camrotatably carried by the slide and adapted to engage the plunger for raising and lowering the regulating wheel unit about its pivotand urging the regulating wheel toward and from the grinding wheel to vary the grinding throat. 2. A centerless grinder-including a'- lied; ways on the bed, opposed grinding .and regulating wheels carried by .the bed, the grindingI and regulating wheels .having v.a

grinding tlroatbetween them, means forV work controlling rateo speed with its sur.

vface adjacent the'work rest blade traveling in an upward direction, a removable camfor rotatably supporting the grinding wheel in' a fixed position on the bed, a lslide on the Ways of the bed, -a regulating wheel unit pivotally supported -on the slide, a plunger adjustably reciprocatable through the regu- ,lating wheel unit, and a cam rotatably 'car-k ried by the slide adapted to engage the plunger for raising andloweringthe regulating wheel unit about its pivot and urging the regulating wheel toward vand from the t grinding wheel to vary the grinding throat,

and means for vertically adjusting the depth of the plunger therebyvarying the the grinding and regulating,` wheels. j 1 l 3. A'cent'erless grinder, including a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat therebetween, aV

work rest blade in the grinding throat for supporting a work piece while it is being ground, means for rotating the grinding wheel at a high or rapid rate of speed withv its ysurface adjacent the work- Vrest blade traveling in a downward direction and -for rotating the regulating wheel at a slow work controlling rate of speed with its surface adjacent the work rest blade traveling in an upward direction, means pivotally sup porting the regulating'wheel, means for oscillating the regulating wheel through a predetermined zone'for forcing the work piece into the grinding wheel and reducing said work piece to a predetermined size, and means for changing the zone of oscillations of the regulating wheel.

4. A centerless grinder, including-a pair ofopposed grinding and regulating wheels work rest Ab ade in the grinding throat supporting awork piece `while it is. being ground, meansV for rotating the grinding.A

wheel at a high or rapidr rate of speedwit its surface adjacent. the work vrest blade traveling in a downward direction and for rotating .the regulating wheel at a `s1ow work controlling rateo 4speed with its surface adjacent the work rest. blade traveling in an upward direction, means pivotally predetermined zone for forcing the work piece into the grinding wheel including a positively rotated cam, and means. for changing the zone of oscillations of the regulating wheel.

5. A centerless grinder, including a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work rest blade inthe grindingthroat for supporting a workpiece while it is being ground,l means for rotating the grinding wheelat a high or rapid rate of speed with its surface adjacent the work resty blade traveling in a downward direction and for rotating the regulatin wheel 'at' aslow oscillating ythe regulating wheel unit .of

given vamplitude through a predetermined tively a high or grinding rate of speed anda slow. work controlling rate of speed with 'their adjacent operative surfaces traveling inopposite directions, a pivoted support for one of the said wheels forming substantially a bell `crank lever having `the pivot at substantially the apex of the lever, a positively rotated cam for oscillating, the housing about.

the` pivotal mounting in the direction of rtation of the wheels, an adjustable follower carried by thev housing engaging the cam whereby the oscillations of the wheel may be varied in a vertical plane, and means for adjusting the center of oscillation for changing the zone of oscillations thereabout.

7. In a centerless grinder the combination lof a bed or support, a grinding wheel rotatably carried thereby, a slide supported by the bed "for movement toward and from the grinding wheel, a regulating wheel unit pivsupporting the regulating wheel, means for oscillating the vregulating wheel through a I oted on the slide a regulatingr'wheel carried v unit aboutits pivotal support towar the j by the unit, and means for oscillat' I the grinding wheel including an operating cam or positively and definitel eifecting andA controllin the-movement o the regulatin wheel in t e direction of the grinding whee for controlling the rate and amount of stock removal from the work and thenal size thereof.`

8; In a centerless grinder the combination I of a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels formmg'a grmdin throat therebetween, a work rest blade wit 'n the. grinding throat, a housing for the regulating j wheel, means pivotally mounting the housing and regulatingrwheel adjacent the plane of the grinding t oat, and cam means for effecting oscillation of the regulating wheel housing and wheel about t e pivotin a radial direction relative to and ,toward the grinding wheel.

9. In a centerless grinder the combination of a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels A:forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work rest blade within the grinding -throatt a housing for the regulating wheel, means pivotally mounting the housing and regulating wheel adjacent the plane of the grinding-throat, cam means for eifecting oscillation of the regulating wheel housing and wheel about the pivot in a radial direction relative to and toward the grinding wheel, Iand additionalymeans for adjusting the regulating wheel housing pivot radilally of the grinding wheel to var the zone of'oscillation of the regulating W eel.

10.` Ina centerless grinder the combina tion. of a bed, la grinding wheel rotatably carried thereby, a work support adjacent the active face of the grinding wheel for supporting a work piece during the grinding operation thereon, a work rotation controlling member for engagement with the workv piece to control its lrotation during theJ grinding operation, the opposed portions of the grinding wheel and the work rotation controlling member vbeing spaced from one another to form a grinding throat therebetween in which ispositioned the work support and work, a support for the regulatingl wheel, means pivotally mounting the support at a point adjacent the plane of the grinding throat, a cam follower carried by the support and a cam-for engagement with.

the follower Vfor oscillating the support and work rotation controlling member about the vpivot of the support in a radial direction toward the grinding wheel and for controlling the rate of stock removal from the work piece and the final size thereof.

11. In a centerless lgrinder the combination of a. bed, a grinding wheel rotatably carried thereby, a work support adjacent the active face of the grinding wheel for sup- -the suplportand afcam for engagementthe fo rti` ng a work-piece-- during the operation thereon, a work'rotation contro ling member for engagement with the work piece to control. :itsy rotation during, the

grinding operation the opposed rtions of the grinding whee and e woi rotation controlling member bein spaced from one another to form al grinding, throat therebetween in which is itioned the work support and work, a supor't for the re ating wheel, means pivota yfmounting t e su port at a point-adjacentthe plane of t e grinding throat, acam follower carried ower for oscillating the supjgrt and work rotation controlling member a ut the pivot of the su ort in a radialdirection toward the grin wheel and for controlling the rate of stoc removal from the work piece and the final size thereof, and means orl adjusting the follower relative to the support and cam t'o chan which the oscillations o vthe support takes place. Y

12. In a centerless grinder'the combination of a bed, a grinding wheel rotatably carried thereby, a work support adjacent the the zone through active face of the grindin .wheel for supporting a `work piece during the grinding operation thereon, a work rotation controlling member-for engagement with the work piece to control its rotation during the grinding operation', the opposed portions of the grinding wheel and the work'rotation controlling member bein spaced from one another to form a grinding throat therebetween in which is positioned the work support and-work, a sup ort for the .regulating wheel, a slide carriedp by the bed for movement toward and from the grinding wheel, means pivotally mounting the support to the slide'at a point adjacent the` grinding throat, ,a cam follower carried by the support, a cam for engaglement with the follower for oscillating t e support and work `rotation controlling member about the pivot ioo i'io

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